The North American Youth set for Toronto in August has been expanded to allow for a nine round event.

Organizer Francis Rodrigues said "FIDE upgraded 9-rounds for the August 2013 North American Youth Chess Championships in Toronto. This means a good number of invaluable FIDE titles, including outright IM, WIM and FM titles amongst others can be won by North American youth under 18! FIDE directives as to no. of rounds are mandatory!

To make this happen, without disrupting previous scheduling or pre-arranged travel plans, the first round is scheduled to start late on the arrival evening. The last round  will be played in place of the last day's blitz tournament, which itself moves to the  more-popular Friday night. There's facility for adjourned games. Here's the updated schedule:

NAYCC 2013 SCHEDULE:

WEDNESDAY Aug 14: Opening Ceremony 6:00 P.M.; Rd. 1 - 6:30 P.M.

THURSDAY Aug 15: Rd. 2 - 10:00 A.M.; Rd. 3 - 3:00 P.M. 

FRIDAY Aug 16: Rd. 4 - 10:00 A.M.; Rd. 5 - 3:00 P.M. (Friday 7 pm-Blitz tourney ($20))

SATURDAY Aug 17: Rd. 6 - 10:00 A.M.; Rd. 7 - 3:00 P.M.; 

SUNDAY Aug 18: Rd. 8 - 8:30 A.M.; Rd. 9 - 12:30 P.M.; Awards Ceremony 4:00 P.M.; 

Please help us by trying to arrive a little earlier on the arrival evening, which most  of you had scheduled for Wednesday 14 August evening. You will now be part of this great and historic event - no previous NAYCC has been able to award these super titles!

Nobody will miss a round. We will accommodate everybody, however late you arrive. 

If you need a new letter for visas, email me, I will have it ready for you tonight. There's still over a month to go! Remember flights from anywhere in the U.S. to Buffalo (on the US-Canadian border) are almost 50% cheaper than direct - you can then bus/drive to Toronto, it's just 2 hours away! Please keep me informed of your arrival times.

Best wishes in gaining your title at the NAYCC!"